Sustainable Agriculture
Gaia Fund works to build a more sustainable and resilient food and farming system by addressing the health, environmental, and economic harms of industrial agriculture.
The Fund works to accelerate the adoption of organic farming systems across California and South Carolina by supporting practices that promote environmental stewardship, strengthen local markets, preserve farmland, and protect public health.
Gaia Fund focuses on high-integrity organic farming approaches that produce nutritious food while improving soil health, conserving natural resources, fostering biodiversity, and helping to mitigate climate change.
THE FUND CONSIDERS REQUESTS FOR CALIFORNIA INITIATIVES THAT:
- Expand access to agricultural careers by reducing barriers to entry and training the next generation of organic farmers, researchers, and policy advocates.
- Equip small and mid-sized farms to adopt and sustain organic farming practices, access fair financing, farmland, and local markets, and build healthy, resilient businesses.
- Advance policy solutions that champion small and mid-sized farms, and foster a fair, resilient, and organic local food and farming system.
- Strengthen organic integrity and accelerate the widespread adoption of organic farming systems.
The current focus is on the following food crops: vegetables, fruits, nuts, and grains. Meat and fiber production is not a current grantmaking priority. The Fund also does not currently consider urban gardens/agriculture, or garden-based education programs.
Gaia prioritizes funding for projects based in Northern California, with a portion of grantmaking supporting organizations working in South Carolina.
The Fund may, on occasion, award grants for initiatives operating outside of these areas, if they are judged to have particular local relevance.
